ISTP organizes IDEA league student event in Zurich
From April 15-17, ETH Zurich’s Institute of Science, Technology and Policy (ISTP) hosted 23 students in this year’s IDEA League “Challenge Program.”
external page This program offers extra-curricular activities for selected highly talented students from the four IDEA League universities RWTH Aachen, TU Delft, Chalmers University, and ETH Zurich. During an extended weekend at each university, the group of students works on socially relevant problems, thereby acquiring capabilities that go beyond their major’s disciplinary area of focus.
The weekend in Zurich focused on energy and how to take decisions under the uncertainty characterizing the energy transition. It was co-organized by ISTP’s director Prof. Thomas Bernauer and ISTP associate member Prof. Tobias Schmidt. In addition to a half-day training on decision-making tools, students learned about the Swiss energy transition and Switzerland’s situation within the European energy system. Guest lecturers from ewz (Zurich’s municipal utility company) discussed their investment strategy and Christian Schaffner, Executive Director of ETH’s Energy Science Center, explained why hydropower in Switzerland currently faces difficulties despite its great potential to balance intermittent renewable electricity generation. The highlight of the workshop was a trip to the KWO electricity company, which produces and stores hydropower in the Grimsel area of Central Switzerland (see photos). After a final discussion round, the students were presented with their certificates (see pictures below).
